Lemon Tetra

**steeler1** · 10-17-2012, 08:05 PM

Here is a fish I don't see discussed here very much.
This is fish that has a lot going for it. Small, peaceful, fairly hardy as long as thier water is not to hard and high in Ph. Their shape makes them able to be kept with larger fish. Though a loose schooler, they still stay together better then most tetras once they settle in to their tank.
I've never seen them as yellow as some pics, mine usualy looks like the photo I've included here. Their overall color is not as bright as some of thier cousins but they are a great contrast fish to Harlaquins, Neons and especially Cardinals. I saw a dealer tank once that only had about a hundred Cards and an even number of Lemons that was awesome.
Although they are not a begginer fish they are great for the slightly more advanced fishkeeper.

**Goes to 11!** · 10-17-2012, 09:23 PM

Lady Hobbs mentions them on occasion as do I.

Mine look just like the pic posted, I have had 8 or 10 [Don't recall :-P] in my 90 for several years and have always enjoyed them.

I have had no issues [At 78F & 7.6pH]. Actually, I'd get more but I haven't seen them locally forever and never think to order them when at the LFS [I get distracted, Go figure :-P]

**ScottishFish** · 10-17-2012, 09:57 PM

They are probs one of the most common tetras I've seen in Scotland, but with like 3 scottish members here that's probs why we don't talk about them much, ken?

**steeler1** · 10-18-2012, 03:35 AM

They used to be more common in LFS here but not as much the last couple of years.

**mommy1** · 10-18-2012, 04:06 AM

I see them mentioned here and there as recommendations. I've never considered any tetra to difficult to keep and am curious why you say they are not for new fish keepers.

**Lady Hobbs** · 10-18-2012, 06:08 AM

Good question. I know of no tetra's that are hard to keep other than perhaps the cardinal or neon and that's only inititally when first purchased.

**steeler1** · 10-18-2012, 06:54 AM

To answer both of you; they as most tetras do not like hard water or high Ph. They will lose their color in hard water and will not acclimate and possibly go into shock. This is why I said they were not for beginer's but somebody that had slightly more experiance as we all become. Maybe I should have said "they are not good first fish".

Just because I've kept fish does not mean I will be succesfull with Discus, a fish I have never kept.

**mommy1** · 10-18-2012, 07:14 AM

You could with a little research and understanding of discus.

**steeler1** · 10-18-2012, 07:21 AM

LOL, I'm more afraid to try them than Saltwater and I was fairly succesful with them. But thanks for the vote of confidence.

**3dees** · 10-18-2012, 02:40 PM

Lemons are one of the most underrated tetras. not at thier best at the lfs, they get quite beautiful in the home tank. my lemons are always schooled. I have 25 with adult wild discus and they get along fine. my lemons are a bit more yellow. they eat the same food as the discus. beefheart flake, prime reef flake, freeze dried blackworms, and bloodworms for a treat.